The planet is under pressure. Economic activity uses resources at a rate that is unsustainable for nature. The situation is so severe that an increasing number of companies are banking on eco-design packaging to help solve this global problem. But what is eco-design and are there real benefits for companies that opt for the practice?
A brief definition of eco-design
The goal of eco-design is to take environmental issues into account when designing products or services.
To minimize any negative environmental effects that a product can have, especially during its production, use and disposal, eco-design takes multiple environmental issues into account such as water, air and soil pollution and the use of raw materials and energy.
An eco-product is designed to limit the consumption of natural resources and reduce impacts on the environment and human health throughout its life cycle.
Eco-design of packaging to reduce pollution
Some traditional packaging can be a source of environmental problems because of the pollution it causes. That’s why an increasing number of companies are going green by focusing on “green” packaging. This can reduce their ecological footprint in different ways.
Reducing the use of toxic or harmful products
Vinyl, plastic films and other materials from the petrochemical industry used to make the protective packaging for various products generally contain toxic products that are harmful to the environment. In addition, factories that produce these materials release a great deal of pollutants into the atmosphere.
Ecological packaging is therefore made from materials that release as few pollutants as possible during manufacturing. For example, minimizing the use of dyes and adhesives is a good way to reduce the pollution businesses generate.
Promoting recyclable materials
Eco-design packaging can also involve the use of recyclable materials that give packaging a second life and serve to develop new products after their useful life, rather than ending up in the dump. Recycling is also an important environmental issue for many industries.
Reduced packaging costs with eco-design
The popular belief is that worrying about the environment automatically entails additional costs for an organization. However, eco-design can, on the contrary, generate significant savings.
Less power consumption during production
The manufacture of packaging like shipping crates and boxes clearly requires a certain amount of energy, which itself has a cost. Companies that implement an eco-design strategy will maximize their processes and render them more energy efficient. They will be able to reduce reliance on energy sources such as gas or electricity, which will result in substantial savings.
Reduction of required resources
Eco-design also contributes to the intelligent use of raw materials. Reducing material waste is a good example of a strategy that can be implemented by companies that manufacture various packaging.
Leverage the benefits of eco-design
For entrepreneurs that want to offer ecological packaging to their customers, in addition to leveraging the benefits of eco-design, rest assured that you can count on Creopack to offer solutions that take current environmental issues into account.
Don’t hesitate to contact us for more details about our custom crating services.